Musto Skiffs at Black Rock Yacht Club

Report by Richard Ekburg
Photos by Shane Baker www.shanebaker.net

Last weekend saw the Australian Musto fleet participating in the first dedicated weekend mixed skiff regatta run by Black Rock Yacht Club. As you will be aware, Black Rock is the venue for the January 2010 MPS Worlds. The regatta comprised skiff fleets of Musto’s, I14’s, Moths, B14’s, and a couple of other local Australian skiff fleets, totalling 60 boats in all. The star studded fleet included I14 World Champions Archie Massey and Lindsay Irwin, Moth World champion Rohan Veal, OK World Champion Roger Blasse, and our own Contender double World Champion (now Musto sailor) Marcus Hamilton. Just another usual weekend at the ‘Rock, really…

Race officers Kevin and Ross Wilson buttered up again after completing their PRO duties in the recent Etchell World Titles, and will be on hand again next January as PRO’s for the Musto Worlds. A blow to our fleet was the late scratching of our Queensland sailors Jason Beebe and Colin Turner after an illness in Jason’s family, however their otherwise willingness to make the 20 hour drive for a weekend sailing in Melbourne is testament to the enthusiasm of the Australian fleet. Richard Ekberg was also ruled out by an injury and could only manage a couple of races, despite his keenness to further show his skills gained in Silvapana last year.

The Musto fleet was however bolstered by the participation of Russ Evans from NZ, and special thanks go to Chris Turner for helping us organise a boat for Russ for the weekend. The scheduled 7 races was always going to be a challenge for the PRO’s and the mixed skiff fleet on one course, and in true Melbourne style the weather also livened up the challenge, with a hot, dry northerly breeze in flat water and 33c on Saturday, matched with a cooler southerly breeze on Sunday.

Photography services were supplied by Shane Baker, including overhead shots from a helicopter. Shane will also be on hand for the MPS Worlds. Check out his site .www.shanebaker.net

The Musto races quickly sorted themselves into a 2 horse race, with current Contender World Champion Marcus Hamilton battling it out with ex I14 sailor Tim Moorhouse (who will hence become known as “Stenclone” – if not for his boat handling, at least for his apparent size similarities), with the other Mustos in hot pursuit. Both Hamilton and Moorhouse flogged the top line B14 fleet in all of the races, with the rest of the Musto fleet also being very competitive with the B14’s. Indications are that the Aus Musto fleet is shaping up well in it’s short life so far. Marcus Hamilton, with 4 wins, was victorious by 1 point at the end of the weekend, from Tim Moorhouse with 2 wins, who’s only blemish was a disappointing finish in the lighter race on Sunday morning. Marcus was presented with our first trophy, being aptly named the “Steve Bradbury Musto Moment Trophy”. For those of you who do not know of Steve Bradbury, he is the first Australian to win a gold medal at the Winter Olympics. Steve was fortunate enough to be in the final of the speed skating short course, and while coming last all his competition fell over on the last turn of the race, leaving him clear to sail through and win the Gold. (Ed's Note: I looked this up on YouTube - see below; classic and very fitting). Suffice to say that much of our early Musto racing was inspired by Steve’s victory… Accordingly we have been donated an old speed skate by the Davis family – Mark and Alan Davis have a long and decorated history in Australian 14’s before the amalgamation with the I14’s, and we are proud to keep close ties with the 14 fleet.

Black Rock will continue it’s schedule of major regattas over the next 9 months, and is looking forward to hosting the MPS Worlds. As one of the premier racing yacht clubs on the Bay, Black Rock is set to host the MPS Worlds as its exclusive and premier event for next summer, and is looking forward to hosting a large contingent of thirsty Musto sailors from all over the World. As mentioned above the PRO’s Ross and Kevin Wilson have long histories in International race management, from Olympics to VOR, and our local International Juror Bill Bell has been working hard to secure the services of the necessary International Jurors in the region at minimal cost to us. Black Rock’s support for the event is unequivocal.

The Musto fleet here is busily working on another couple of “prospects” so that we can clear the current boats that we have in stock, and then we can work on Chris T to send us another container load of boats. Ex-I14 sailor Nozza has been very generous in storing the boats for us at no cost.

By now you should have received the 2010 MPS worlds NOR and Accommodation Guide, so that you can make your travel plans and take advantage of the early bird entry. Drop us a line if you have any questions – we’re keen to see as many of you over here as possible.

Results

1 AUS391 Cingale Marcus Hamilton 7.00 1.00 1.00 3.00 1.00 [3.00] 1.00
2 AUS379 TBA Tim Moorhouse 8.00 2.00 [5.00] 1.00 2.00 1.00 2.00
3 AUS245 Jet Tim Hill 13.00 3.00 2.00 2.00 3.00 [4.00] 3.00
4 AUS243 Bucket Full of Sin Mark Elsworth 28.00 8.00C 3.00 8.00C [8.00C] 5.00 4.00
5 AUS241 Black Spot Richard Ekberg 31.00 8.00C 8.00C 8.00C [8.00C] 2.00 5.00
6 NZL210 TBA Russ Evens 36.00 8.00C 4.00 8.00C 8.00C 8.00C [8.00F]
7 AUS380 Touch This Mark Lainson 38.00 8.00C 8.00C 8.00C 8.00C [8.00C] 6.00